Collection car



Aug. 30, 1927. 1,640,873

v. w. BALZER ET AL COLLECTION CAR Filed June 10, 1926 VERNON W. 341.2512, JoH/v Naif. BALLOU,

Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

VERNON W. BALZERAND JOHN MCK. BALLOU, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AS-

SIGNORS TO CHARLES W. BURKE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

COLLECTION CAR.

Application filed June 10, 1926. Serial No. 115,003.

. One of the objects of this invention'is to provide a comparatively small car or ve- ,liicle suitable for collecting small amounts of cash from small places of business as, for

instance, gasolene-service-stations, branch stores, and banks.

Another object is to provide a closed compartment just large enough to hold a guard undera turret, by which the guard can swing himself around to observe approaches from all sides' Another object is to provide means by which the guard is enabled to control the movements of the vehicle in case of accident to the operator.

Another object is to provide controlling means by which the guard can operate the turret.

Another object is to provide means by which the guard can observe approaches from all sides Without changing his position.

. Another object is to provide means for ventilating the comparatively small compartment.

Other objects will appear from the following description and appended claims as well as from the accompanying drawing, in

which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle with safe-boxes and a turret-covered r.ecep tacle, embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through a turret-covered receptacle of a simple form, with seat and controlling devices, embodying this invention;

A vehicle of this type is especially suited for collections by a bank or similar business house that can give a check for any amount of cash received or collected from small or branch or other business houses, that do largely cash business, and that are so frequently subjected to hold-ups. It stands to reason that the guard in this car can observe the entrance to a place of business while the collector receives the cash in exchange for a check, which cash may be placed in safes within viewof the guard on the vehicle, so that held-up is possiblei holding up of a place of business where only acheck may be found is not really to be expected, and hold-ups will cease as soon as the cash is collected at frequent intervals in the manner set forth herewith.

As illustrated, the vehicle 3 may be of any customary type, that may be readily bought on the open market, or, of course, a specially designedcar may be provided.

The vehicle is: preferably stripped of all unnecessary and obstructing structures, so

that the observer in the turret-covered receptacle is well enabled to see in all directions.

The seat l is for the operator of the car. Safes and collecting boxes are provided at points to be within view of the observer in the receptacle 7 two such safes or boxes being indicated at 5 and 6. The cover 8 for the receptacle 7 is in form of a turret, with a gun-slot 9 and observation openings 10, sidewise of the gun-slot. There is also an observation opening 11 towards the rear, through which the guard may have a view by means of the reflector 12. The transom 13, through which the guard has access to the receptacle 7, is provided with locking means as indicated at 14. A ventilation opening 15 is provided in the top of the turret, covered and protected by the plate 16. A seat 17 is provided for the guard in the receptacle, the seat being secured to the turning turret, as indicated at 18, by the bar 19, and a roller being provided at the lower end as indicated at 20, for bracing the seat against the sides of the receptacle.

The guard is by this arrangement enabled to turn the turret while seated on the seat 17 by bracing his feet against the sides of the receptacle 7.

A quick and easy turning of the turret is assured by the mounting of the turret 8 on the receptacle 7 by means of roller bearings. Having the rollers 20 on the one side and the upper and lower tracks 21 on the other side between the turret and the receptacle forms a rigid interconnection for these two main parts and at the same time facilitates a turning and controlling of the turret.

In connection with the upper opening 15, a lower opening 22 is provided in the bottom of the receptacle, and a fan 23 is arranged to accomplish proper ventilation of the receptacle.

inasmuch as the operating control ling devices for steering, signaling, hornblowing, and braking, must vary With different types of driving mechanism of different vehicles, it is not possible to show one certain form of means for the guard in the receptacle by Which he may control. the operation of the vehicle in case the driver is disabled, and the switches 24: and handles 25 are merely outlined to indicate probable locations for such controlling and operating devices for the guard.

Having thus described our invention, We

claim 1. A collection car of comparatively small self-propelling type like a light automobile including safe-like containers, a turret-cow ered receptacle having gun and vision open ings by whlch a guard may protect said containers for the depositing and collecting of valuables and a seat/having a back brace attached to and suspended from the turret of the receptacle forming the controlling means of the turret.

2. In a collection car, a receptacle, a turret having gun and vision openings and be ing turnably mounted on said receptacle,

means in the turretby which guard may have access to the receptacle, and control- VERNON W. BALZER. JOHN McK. BALLOU. 

